Creative Detail

As you prepare your book or novel manuscript for publishing, you might know exactly what you need, and that’s great. But if this is your first book, you probably feel a bit overwhelmed. Here is a basic overview of the types of editing I offer; however, I will be happy to read a writing sample and discuss your specific needs. Copy Editing If you do not plan to make any further content changes, you might be ready for copy editing. Copy editing focuses on grammar and style, not content or creativity, throughout your entire manuscript. I will polish grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and style consistency on your final draft, in your words. And don’t underestimate the power of proper punctuation—the most common fix for unreadable manuscripts. Line Editing If you want creative help that goes beyond fixing objective errors, without altering your story or structure, line editing might be perfect for you. Line editing focuses on creativity and readability at the sentence, paragraph, and scene levels to elevate your prose and find story inconsistencies. I will identify and help fix issues such as overused words and phrases, clunky sentence structure, weak transitions, and “head hopping.” If your schedule or budget allows for only one round of editing before publishing, I highly recommend a copy edit. But unless you are completely satisfied with your final draft, a line edit would be better. Not sure what you need? Send a sample of your writing and ask to see the difference.